A statue commemorates the first Prime Minister of Australia, Edmund Barton.

Sir Edmund Barton, GCMG KC (1849 – 1920) was an Australian politician and judge. He served as the first Prime Minister of Australia and became a founding justice of the High Court of Australia. For twelve years Barton gave all his energy to the cause of Federation and in 1897-98 rose to the heights of oratory with dedicated leadership and sustained hard work.

As Prime Minister he played an important part in setting up the Commonwealth administrative machine and in making Federation a reality. Barton resigned as Prime Minister in 1903 to become a judge of the High Court of Australia, serving for 17 years until his death in 1920.